Advocacy Academy
The Challenge:
As part of the nation’s founding, Black Americans were, and in many ways continue to be, intentionally excluded from meaningful, transformative civic participation. As a result, many lack basic information about: 1) how the American political and civics systems works; and 2) how these systems are directly connected to their overall quality of life. Worse, some avoid civic or political engagement due to a belief that the system does not exist for their benefit; they operate under the mistaken belief that political and civic engagement will neither impact nor improve their daily lives. This lack of civic information and alienation from political processes contribute significantly to racially inequitable outcomes across a range of issues.
When it comes to racial disparities in voting rights, policing, housing and education, the challenges are many – and they’re growing. Despite decades of civil rights advancement, our nation is once again at an inflection point. The next generation of advocates must be prepared to think critically and strategically about how to show up for the community.
CLSJ’s Solution: Advocacy Academy
Advocacy Academy equips individuals and organizations who are committed to strengthening their communities with essential project development and fundraising skills.
Participants learn how to create detailed campaign plans, form compelling project pitches, design comprehensive project budgets and cultivate prospective stakeholders. More than 100 participants have already graduated from Advocacy Academy with skills needed to build the programs and services they want to transform their neighborhoods. Your support for this program would be deeply appreciated.
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Our Future, Our Vote Campaign
The Challenge:
As part of the nation’s founding, Black Americans were, and in many ways continue to be, intentionally excluded from meaningful, transformative civic participation. As a result, many lack basic information about: 1) how the American political and civics systems works; and 2) how these systems are directly connected to their overall quality of life. Worse, some avoid civic or political engagement due to a belief that the system does not exist for their benefit; they operate under the mistaken belief that political and civic engagement will neither impact nor improve their daily lives. This lack of civic information and alienation from political processes contribute significantly to racially inequitable outcomes across a range of issues.
CLSJ’s Solution: Our Future, Our Vote Campaign
When organizers are able to demonstrate how civic processes are connected to real issues that affect their lives, Black and Brown New Yorkers are much more likely to increase their civic and political engagement. The same is true when civic information is presented in a way that values and centers their lived experiences.
CLSJ’s Our Future, Our Vote campaign educates Black and Brown youth, with a primary focus on ages 17 – 35, about specific civic processes and trains them to organize and encourage their communities to participate.
By training young people to use their activism, voices and votes to achieve their civic and community building goals, this grassroots initiative builds electoral power and energizes democracy. Your support for this program would be deeply appreciated.
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The CLSJ Esmeralda Simmons Pre Law Program
CLSJ is integrating the fight for social justice into Medgar Evers College students’ experience by providing an enhanced, transformative and foundational pre-law education. This year long pre-law program will train eight to ten MEC juniors for one year as CLSJ engages in impact litigation, policy and legislative research and launches community education campaigns.
The program will offer mentorship and guidance for MEC students seeking to enter the legal field; law school preparation programs like access to LSAT training, and hands-on experience with applying the law to the needs of their community. The program will include a speaker series, workshops, conferences and a full slate of opportunities for MEC students to strengthen their academic experience and prepare them to advocate for their communities. Students in the program will attend hearings; meet with legal practitioners to ask pragmatic questions about the practice of law; engage in community organizing and community education campaigns to assist New Yorkers learn their rights.
Students will learn about and educate their peers on key pieces of legislation such as the New York State John R. Lewis Voting Rights Bill and other state and federal laws that secure civil rights. Finally, the Esmeralda Simmons Pre Law program will give students the opportunity to learn and practice specific skills that are key to the practice of law and to advocacy in general.
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